Forum Topic

Martin Lovick · 05/09/2010 09:58:00

new.ActonW3.com Communtity Forum Topic posting

Bombay Bistro

We went there last night and were all (5 of us) very impressed. Food was excellent - not a huge number of dishes (usually a good sign) and several things that I had not seen on an Indian menu before. I can't remember the exact names but a spicy chicken dish with red peppers really hit the mark, and another stuffed garlicky chicken dish was particularly popular. We didn't have a huge amount, and I would like to try some of the starters and cocktails sometime, but even so a main dish each plus rice, nans and vegetable dishes, plus a beer each for £15 each (inc service) seems pretty reasonable.Very friendly and informative people, and the chef came out to ask us whether we had enjoyed our meal (which we certainly had).We were the only people in there for most of the time (mid-evening Saturday) so I would urge people to give it a try. I would be interested to hear what other people think, especially W3's expert reviewers (hi Claire).

Martin Lovick ● 5974d45 Comments

where is it?

Sara Nathan ● 5974d

http://www.bombaybistro.net/default.html

Philippe Bruyer ● 5974d

The bottom of the High Street nearish to the railway bridge. It's been Chinese and Italian in the recent past, none have lasted very long. Glad to hear a good review, might give it a try.

Chris Hurley ● 5974d

The bottom of the High Street nearish to the railway bridge. It's been Chinese and Italian in the recent past, none have lasted very long. Glad to hear a good review, might give it a try.

Chris Hurley ● 5974d

So near The Libertaire..opposite the Bingo Hall then?

Sara Nathan ● 5974d

We ate there last week and weren't impressed. The waiter questioned my choice of starter (Achari Paneer Tikka) so I assured him that I liked achari dishes but when it arrived it was quite bland and with no sign of any pickles. Two of the vegetarian mains were reasonably good; however the takeaway menu lists vegetable korma which isn't on the eat-in menu so we asked if it was available. This turned out to be a big mistake as it was, again, bland and uninteresting.The popadoms and bread were very good and the vegetable side dish was fine, but I wouldn't go back. I got the impression they wanted to offer really original dishes but lacked the confidence to go for it.

Norman Redfern ● 5974d

just up from the Bingo, opposite our lovely multistory carpark

Martin Lovick ● 5973d

Went again tonight - on my own, I was that keen....their vegi stuff is something else: beetroot and cheese kofta - like meat balls except ovvie not meat but light and fluffy in a creamy tomatoey sauce...plus the best dhal I have ever tried and lovely Naan bread. Will have to take vegetarian brother but there seem to be nuts in eveything so maybe not vegetarian, nut-allergic daughter.

Sara Nathan ● 5698d

Sara I totally agree about the beetroot kofta. It was amazing. Next time you go try the beetroot desert. Very, very rich and very delicious.

Anne Brown ● 5697d

What with the Naan etc, haven't had room for dessert yet - but do love beetroot.

Sara Nathan ● 5697d

We've been regulars since they opened and would highly recommend. Super friendly service and we've always had delicious food, unlike lots of the other standard curry houses about you can really taste the fresh spices. The papadums with home made chutneys, chicken chettinad and kashmiri rogan josh are firm favourites and the beetroot halwa desert is well worth saving room for. Their home delivery service is also great, speedy and fresh when it arrives.

Laura Wilkin ● 5697d

We had SUCH a good meal there last night and they are so nice.There are times when only crispy duck in pancakes will do!

Sara Nathan ● 5696d

My boyfriend and I have been here several times since it opened and think it is excellent. It is however, always really quiet so I would really recommend that people in the local area support it. I have never had mussels in an Indian before, let alone ones that taste as good as they do at Bombay Bistro. Their cooking is a refreshing change from the normal fatty and oily offerings that so many Indian restaurants serve and I for one am very keen to keep a place like it open on my doorstep!

Liz Jones ● 5694d

I took my mum tonight before the Rocket film club and it was ever so good - she loved it. We arrived at 1745 and by the time we left an hour later, there were two other tables taken and one takeaway delivered.But I agree, it needs more local support.

Sara Nathan ● 5694d

I went there yesterday and was also very impressed. Good flavours and worth the extra cost. Not many in. Hope they can keep going.

Nigel Williams ● 5686d

What extra cost?I thought it very inexpensive - but did have veggie options.£22 for two full people eating in seemed exceptional valueBack on no-carb diet now so won't be going for a while

Sara Nathan ● 5686d

I second all the good reviews - the food is really tasty and a great mix of unusual and interesting flavours. They *do* do Korma / Madras etc the curryhouse staples as takeaway, but the knowledgeable staff make it clear that these aren't the dishes they recommend - they recommend their own dishes rather than the 'standards'. And I've always really been glad to go with their recommendations, the beetroot kofta's are obviously a firm favourite with others on this forum!Give it a go, it would be a shame if such a great non-chain restaurant were to slip away through lack of business. Hopefully it won't!

Bec Vaughan ● 5683d

Lovely food! Ordered for work colleagues a few weeks ago. We all loved our food - there were pilaus, and channas and lamb rogans and prawn dhansaks and what not. They sent us some free beers, and are so polite always. Love their seafood fishcakes and goan fish curry. Scrummy

Harika Sheppard ● 5659d

oh dear!SO not compatible with a no carb diet.Am pining!

Sara Nathan ● 5659d

@Sara : You could try the tandoori platter perhaps? That should be relatively low or even zero carbs I think. All grilled meats - lamb chops, tikka, tandoori - works well on low carb. If you are a vegetarian, the achari paneer tikka, saag paneer and the black lentils should be ok - all high in protein, few carbs. If you fancy cooking a curry, I can email you a few recipes from my when I tried my hand at low carb (and failed miserably.)

Harika Sheppard ● 5659d

Went back to the Bombay Bistro and my goodness it was excellent - and astonishing value too.Don't know why so many people get takeaways though as a large part of the appeal is in the beautiful presentation of the food and the jolly service.Anyhow take-away thriving but only two other actual tables occupied which , on a Saturday night, is not enough.i would recommend trying and then supporting it.

Sara Nathan ● 5611d

We has a really enjoyable meal last night,the menu was a very pleasant change from the run of the mill, food really fresh and they try so hard, just a pity that for a Saturday evening, there were only four other persons. They appeared to have a reasonable take away trade, but to be profitable they need more people eating in.

Libby Kemp ● 5603d

The food in BOMBAY BISTRO is is realy supereb and fresh . they need to support by local customers. this is the first real indian restaurant in acton .

B.C. Bhatt ● 5586d

I've eaten here a couple of times now and it has always been excellent. It was quiet both visits though which does give some cause for concern. Acton curry houses probably do their best business after closing time and this isn't that kind of restaurant. The small premium they charge over other places in the area probably puts alot of customers off - shame.

Alan Fairchild ● 5585d

Is it actually more expensive? we find that as one starter is ample for two and the naan is so fab, it doesn't seem pricy at all.

Sara Nathan ● 5585d

I DONT AGREE TEEY ARE EXPENSIVE . THEY ARE DOING REALY AUTHNTIC INDIAN FOOD IN THIS AREA . THE QUALITY OF FOOD IS THE BEST . THEEY ARE TOTTALY DIFFERENT FROM OTHER CURRY HOUSES. THEY DESERVE IT .

B.C. Bhatt ● 5585d

this the best indian restaurant in acton . i like the presantation of the food .its like some of the best restaurant in central london . they have realy very talented chefs.

Bobby jhon ● 5585d

Do some of the posters on here work at the restaurant do you think?!

Gordon Smith ● 5585d

I hope not.Maybe they will post on lots of subjects in the future.

Sara Nathan ● 5585d

Well I for one don't work there and I do think it's excellent. I don't have a track record of posting much, but to be honest I wanted to drum up support for them -partly selfish reasons, as if they don't get enough custom, they will move on and I really DON'T want to see a place if this quality leave!! I don't know that I would cope well without my Beetroot Kofta! ;)Also I think it's important to spread the word about hard working, good quality independent restaurants/shops who don't have the marketing budgets that the chain restaurants have. I know which I'd rather have on my doorstep so it's important to get the word out when they are good. And Bombay Bistro is really good.

Bec Vaughan ● 5585d

I ordered takeaway from here about a month ago after the rave reviews and have to say I was really disappointed. I guess i was expecting something special and what i got was bland and more style over substance, different for the sake of it rather than adding anything to the food. Sorry, but thats just my opinion (and my husband agreed). 3spice and the Clay Oven are much, much better for me.

Milena Vincic ● 5585d

I'm not sure it is best sampled as takeaway - the presentation is so lovely.Have never found it bland though: the chickpea starter is piquante and I'm with previous poster on the beetroot kofta.

Sara Nathan ● 5585d

Well, at least you tried it out for yourself - I'm sorry you didn't like it though. When we first tried the takeaway we asked what they recommended and they did say that the 'all time favourites' part of the menu (ie the korma, vindaloo etc section) weren't their speciality,& they didn't really recommend them, they just had them on there as people tended to ask for them. I don't know if this is what you had though. it's a shame you didn't enjoy your meal, but at least you tried it and made up your own mind.

Bec Vaughan ● 5585d

I didnt have the 'popular' choice, rather one of their recommended dishes, its not that it didnt taste the way i expected it to it just didnt taste of anything much which was what disappointed me so much, indian food should be all about flavour. I wish i could remember exactly what i ordered but like i said it was a month ago. Of course you would expect take-away food not to be as good as eat-in, but it wasnt as good as other take-away despite the specially sealed containers, and I dont expect take-away to look pretty, just taste good! Anyway, I wish them well, they're clearly doing something right for some of you, but i think I'll pass.

Milena Vincic ● 5585d

Just reading al this makes me think that a trip is called for this weekend...Sunday night looks promising

Sara Nathan ● 5584d

Im tempted to go myself - beetroot kofta sounds interesting!

Gordon Smith ● 5584d

Its amazing - looks like two large doughy balls but tastes really light - and with a delicious sauce.One between two with something else is better than a whole portion each though

Sara Nathan ● 5584d

I agree we shared, a strange dish but enjoyable never had anything like it before!It's a shame they do not do the all time favourites well, but their house specials are tasty. Naan bread good as well.

Jen Morty ● 5577d

Crikey, this place is good. How good? Well, bear this in mind: last Friday we ordered a takeaway from there. they warned us they were busy and that it would take 50 -60 minutes to arrive. We thought that would be a bit late but said okay. In truth, it took 1 and 3/4 hours to arrive, and by then we had to take it home (we'd been babysitting and the parents were back by then) and we were STARVING. The food was so good, however, we went BACK last night and had another great meal. It takes a lot to make us forgive a long wait like that --- it takes absolutely brilliant food!

Adam Kimmel ● 5563d

Did you eat in last night?I would think that might be better - the service in the restaurant is always good in my experience

Sara Nathan ● 5563d

Haven't eaten her for ages, only because Anokha is so much closer (but not, frankly, as good) Two of us had the most delicious vegetarian dinner tonight for a princely £15 each including service.I love the chick-pea starrer and we then had the aubergine main dish with the sweet potato side order. That between us was plenty with some raita.Pleasingly it was quite busy with four or five other tables occupied, a couple just vacated and several delivery orders.But they could probably do with more custom

Sara Nathan ● 5241d

I think most of their trade is take away, as I know several people that get food from them including me but I must stop as my waist is expanding!

Jen Morty ● 5240d